The release from TomatoFest.com goes on to say that 2008 was a barn-burner year for “black” tomatoes.

” ‘Black’ tomatoes are not really black,” says TomatoFest’s Gary Ibsen. “They cover a range of dark colors, including deep purple, dusky deep brown, smoky mahogany with dark green shoulders, and bluish-brown. The depth of colors seems to be encouraged by a higher acid and mineral content in the soil.”

Anyone out there grow black tomatoes last year? Or any of the others on this list?

I grew one “Black Pear” last summer that I ordered from chileplants.com. I was impressed with its production, even if it didn’t really start pumping out tomatoes until pretty late in the season. I ordered late and planted late, so it might have been my fault. Black Pear also held really well sitting in a box on the kitchen table; under-ripe fruits kept turning from green to at least some form of blackish red. I kept thinking I would make green tomato pickles out of them and then they’d all ripen. The plant withstood a couple of flirtations with frost, too. My retired friends Perry and Ros, who didn’t grow any tomatoes last year because they were building an addition to their house, gave the flavor high marks.

(I grew a yellow Brandywine, too, but it was a very needy plant, and the fruits were very convoluted. Sexy, but not very practical, so they’re not on next year’s list.).

TomatoFest is out of California, is all organic and offers a staggering SIX HUNDRED — correction MORE THAN six hundred types of heirloom tomato seeds. I wore my eyes out just scanning the paste tomato varieties.

Oh, lady, I’m SO there with you. Ordered my seeds after reading Amy Goldman’s book on heirloom tomatoes. You’re right, it’s veggie porn – once you see it you can’t take your eyes from it. Am trying a couple of new types – Stump of the World, Gold Medal, and – get this – an italian sauce tomato I’ve lost my mind over and paid $38 bucks for the packet of seeds. Want to swap seedlings?

Oh, lady, I’m SO there with you. Ordered my seeds after reading Amy Goldman’s book on heirloom tomatoes. You’re right, it’s veggie porn – once you see it you can’t take your eyes from it. Am trying a couple of new types – Stump of the World, Gold Medal, and – get this – an italian sauce tomato I’ve lost my mind over and paid $38 bucks for the packet of seeds. Want to swap seedlings?

I love brandywine tomato’s. I have learned that oif you want to grow brandywine tomato’s or any certain tomato it’s best to start your own. Relying on the local greenhouse isn’t always a guarantee even on popular varieties.

I love brandywine tomato’s. I have learned that oif you want to grow brandywine tomato’s or any certain tomato it’s best to start your own. Relying on the local greenhouse isn’t always a guarantee even on popular varieties.

Becky Hensley is the co-founder of Share Denver - a community craft space in Park Hill. She's also the proud Ninja-in Chief of the Denver Craft Ninjas -- a women’s crafting collective dedicated to keeping the DIY spirit alive through laughter, shared skills, and cocktails.

Colorado native Mark Montano is an international designer, artist, author and television personality. He has appeared on TLC’s “While You Were Out” and “10 Years Younger,” as well as “My Celebrity Home” on the Style Network, “She’s Moving In” on We TV, “The Tony Danza Show” on ABC, and “My Home 2.0” on Fox.